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Tag Archives: dogs

A Better Day for Us

As the Cougar Flats fire began to explode I was high in the mountains with my friend Mary from Montana. The weather was hot that week – 100 plus degress so we were anxious to get someplace cooler. We packed a little lunch for us and the dogs and headed to Harts Pass. Indeed, it was a glorious day in high country and we were lucky to enjoy it.

We started out on the Buckskin trail descending into the basin below Slate Peak
How to get a Labrador retriever’s attention
Hey – did Gus get a cookie?
My, what a big tongue you have Luna
Tiny bubbles in the creek
Smoke on the horizon down valley
Glacier lily
Pretty white flower that looks like miniature bear grass next to shooting stars
Two women and three dogs with a self timer? That was a challenge!
Mary and the Labradors!
She found a rock that looked like her home state of Montana
Mount Baker
Gus was insistent on trying to climb the stairs despite the sign that specifically said not to.
The smoke grew as the day went by
The Pasayten Wilderness looking north to Alaska
North Cascades
Silky Phacelia
Maybe my favorite wildflower

Relief

Today power was restored to much of the valley and most communications are back in service as well. It’s a big relief to those of us that have not suffered losses from the wildfires. Our dogs have been out of sorts with the lack of a regular schedule, lots of noise from generators and helicopters and also from the anxiety that their people have carried around for the last ten days. I took our dogs to the lake for a rousing round of fetch and Sky was beyond happy. Luna liked it too but she doesn’t share Sky’s enthusiasm. Few do.

Jump
Swim
Shake
You are going to throw this again, aren’t you?
What do you mean we have to go now?

Twisp Independence Day Parade

Twisp has the best parade! Every Fourth of July folks are encouraged to dress up, bring a float of some kind or a horse or a wagon or whatever strikes their fancy and join the parade. There are no marching bands or fancy flower-covered floats – just home grown and mostly locally designed parade entries. A few horses, fire engines, sports cars and local organizations and lots of kids. Dogs too. Folks seem to want to bring their dogs to the parade. It’s better than leaving them in hot cars in the summer but most dogs don’t seem all that entertained by the show unless they are part of it.

Line dancers entertained parade goers before the main event on Glover Street
Lots of flying candy
This guy looked old and hot
This one seemed to be enjoying the show from his front row seat
Hot
The Spartan Art Project makes its way down the parade route and then to the Arts Fest in the Twisp Park
The big dog barked a lot.
This little guy was part of the show
Interesting costume
Shouldn’t this child be wearing some safety gear?
Uh oh. Luckily the only hill is downhill
The mayor made an appearance
What’s better than a trailer full of kids playing violins?
Marti and two of her dogs
Hi
This is my favorite sports car because it has a dog in it.
The dogs from Mazama got their own float.
Proudly showing her colors!
Our favorite plumber and banjo player

Immediately following the parade, The Methow Arts Fest happened in the Twisp Park at the confluence of the Twisp and Methow Rivers. You can see my photos of that other fun Fourth of July event here.

On the Water

What fun to finally get my kayak back on the water. It’s been a challenging spring with lower back pain slowing me down at every turn. It is on the mend and while it’s not pain-free, it’s mostly tolerable. The weather is improving this week too. Yesterday was even what you might call warm. Well, depending on where you live and what you’re used to!

I moved stuff around the garage on Saturday and dragged the boat outside to hose off the dust and other winter accumulations; yesterday I put the racks on my car and finally, finally I loaded my boat with some trepidation anticipating that spasm of back pain. I managed without causing anymore pain so I took off for the lake. Ken and the dogs followed a while later with the fishing boat. I saw some Wood Ducks and a pair of Hooded Mergansers and Canada Geese, in addition to lots of singing Yellow-rumped Warblers and other song birds. It was nice to get out if even for just a short while. Today I’m a little sore but mostly tolerable still.

 

 

Patterson Mountain, still covered in yellow
A male Hooded Merganser trying to get a female’s attention.
Sky just now noticed me
Ken teaches the dogs about fishing tackle.
Sky was very interested in the fishing. Luna was along for the ride.
He caught several trout
Supper?

Out with the Dogs

The dogs and I went up-valley on Friday for a change of scenery. The pass is still closed so traffic is light up there. That will change soon. The dogs were happy to see some dwindling snow patches and I enjoyed looking at the rivers and streams. Lost River was running clear while all the other streams were muddy with runoff. Glacier lilies were blooming where the snow had just melted. Butterflies probed into old dog poop looking for nutrients. Chipping Sparrows, Willow Flycatchers and many other birds sang their songs of spring time.

I always stop for this view.
Glacier lily
Glacier lily
Spring beauty
Buttercup
I should know the name of this mountain
This bridge is nerve-wracking for me. In the summer I wade across the river but not now.
Sky was not as confident as Luna
Luna says it’s a piece of cake.
Quite the rushing river
A small waterfall
Fresh cottonwood leaves
Cottonwood leaves in black and white
Cedar and sunlight
Forest and the trees
This creek must have escaped its culvert. Now it is going across the road.
That’s where the road should be.
Luna gets a stick out of the muddy torrent
Even muddy, it’s still pretty
Butterflies. How many do you see?
Disgusting, I know.
Sky is curious.